Amarillo forward O'Rourke makes NCAA DI commitment

February 13, 2018

The Amarillo Bulls, proud members of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), are pleased to announce that Co-Captain and forward Austin O’Rourke has committed to play NCAA Division I hockey for the University of Massachusetts-Lowell. UMass-Lowell is a program that participates in the Hockey East Conference of NCAA Hockey.

O’Rourke, a 20-year-old from Canton, Georgia, started the season with the Lone Star Brahmas and was acquired in a trade after the Holiday break.

“I worked on the O’Rourke trade for the better part of two months,” said Bulls Head Coach Rocky Russo. “I have followed Austin’s junior career for the last few years and knew he was the type of player and person that we needed to join our Bulls Family.”

O’Rourke, a 6’4/215 lbs. left wing has amassed 12 goals and 12 assists for 24 points in 40 games this season to go along with his 99 penalty minutes. Over his NAHL career he has collected 20 goals, 21 assists and 241 penalty minutes in 90 NAHL games.

O’Rourke was very humbled by the opportunity to continue his academic and athletic career at UMass-Lowell. “It is a great feeling to know that I will have the opportunity to be a NCAA Student-Athlete at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell,” said O’Rourke.

“I would like to thank my parents for always being there for me and doing everything they could to help me pursue my hockey career, but more importantly helping me to grow and mature into the person that I am today. I would also like to thank my previous coaches Steve Jennings and Andy Heinze, and most certainly I would like to thank Coach Russo and the entire Bulls organization for believing in me and helping to promote me to Coach Bazin and the UML staff. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity they have given me and look forward to giving my best effort on the ice and in the classroom every day.”

“We are extremely excited for Austin and family. Austin’s work ethic, toughness and leadership characteristics are second to none. There is no question that he will be a tremendous addition to Coach Bazin’s program both on and off the ice,” said Russo.

O’Rourke is the 7th player from the 2017-18 Bulls to secure an NCAA Division I commitment